mwvsciencefair - colored roses

Problem Scenario

Rusting steel wool

Broad Question

How does rusting steel wool in different liquids affect the rusting rate.

Specific Question

How does rusting steel wool in different liquids affect the rusting rate.

Hypothesis

The steel wool will rust the fastest in salt water.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable:

type of liquid

Dependent Variable:

amount of rust

Variables That Need To controlled

plain tap water

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

Water: is just plain old water
Rust:
A reddish- or yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that is formed on iron or steel
steel wool:
Fine strands of steel matted together into a mass, used as an abrasive.

General Plan

My plan is to get a bunch of different liquids and separate them in different cups then place one piece of the same kind of steel wool inside each liquid. I am going to measure the results. I'm trying to find out what liquid is most corrosive towards steel wool.

Potential Problems And Solutions

measuring the amount of rust that formed on the steel wool.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Disposal of the steel wool

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
steel wool	8 pieces	Wal-Mart	$8.99
wine glasses	4	crate and barrel	$43.80
salt	1 container	Wal-Mart	$2.00
vinegar	1 jar	Wal-Mart	$2.00
seltzer water	1 can	Wal-Mart	$1.00
water	1 glass	home	free

Detailed Procedure

First get four glasses (wine glasses) and line them up on the counter.
Next fill each cup half way with a different different in each one. Starting with plain water, then in the next glass put apple cider vinegar in it, after that put seltzer water in the next and finally the last glass will be half filled with salt water.
Once the glasses are filled, place one piece of steel wool into each cup and make sure the pieces of steel wool are the same size.
Leave them to soak
After 48 hours come back and record the results

Diagram

Photo List

Picture right after setting up experiment
Picture one hour after setting up experiment
Picture 48 hours after setting up experiment

Time Line

48 hours

Data Table

Data Analysis

Graphs

Photos

Results

Seltzer water rusted the steel wool the most and fastest

Conclusion

It turns out that seltzer water is the most corrosive liquid towards steel wool. Salt water is the second most, then regular water and last is vinegar.

Discussion

Benefit to Community and/or Science

There is no benefit to this experiment.

Background Research

Steel wool is used by woodworkers and craftsmen working with paint, lacquer and varnish.
Steel wool can’t be used on oak, because it will eventually leave a blue or black stain on the wood. Steel Wool is often used for professional cleaning processes, not only on wooden surfaces, but also on glass, because it is softer than the materials.
Another use of it is rodent control. What you would do is you would stuff it in the pest’s hole and when they try to chew on it they will have severe pain in their mouth. Also, if it is ingested it will cause internal bleeding which could lead to death.
When steel wool is heated it increases in mass due to the combination of burning iron with oxygen. Very fine steel wool is sometimes carried for use as tinder in emergency situations, because it burns even when wet and can be ignited by fire, a spark, or by connecting a battery to produce what is called joule heating.